Find a Local Farmers Market in DE

Just about everyone understands nowadays that Delaware farmers markets are one of the better places to find great local produce. They're also great places to interact socially, taste test new, fresh ingredients before you buy, and even watch cooking demonstrations and entertainment on most occasions.

Delaware farmers markets highlight the products from local farms and other agri-businesses, and they also happen right in your home town, so you aren't required to journey far to discover them. They've been going on for years in some locations, but they've become more popular in the last few years, so you should be able to find one not far from home!

The Benefits of Farmers Markets in Delaware

The advantages of shopping at your local Delaware farmers market are many. First, you are assured the produce and other items are as fresh as they can be, as they come directly from the farm to the market. Most crops available for sale at these markets are naturally grown, so you know your friends and family won't be eating anything except farm-fresh goodness.

Also, Delaware farmers markets are great for the environment. Farms contribute oxygen and remove carbon dioxide from the air, which can help reduce global warming, and usually, farmers do not have to drive too far to the market, so the environment gets another boost by using less fuel and contributing a lesser number of pollutants into the air.

Typically, rates are cheaper at farmers markets, too, because the farmer doesn't have to mark up his prices to generate income from a wholesaler, who marks up the prices again before they get to the supermarket. So, you are actually paying less of your budget for a far better product, and who doesn't like that?

These markets profit Delaware farmers, as well, because they have a weekly (or daily) market to appeal to customers, and in addition they don't need to ship their products days or even weeks beforehand at low cost, so they make a better profit, too. It's always safer to buy from local DE farms, because the money stays in the local economy, and that means more jobs and profits - all from buying fresh local produce!

Finding Your Local Delaware Farmers Market

Farmers markets in most cases run from late May or early June through September or October, based on where you live and your climate. Really it all is dependent upon the growing season in your area and when farmers can get their first products to market. Delaware farmers markets are such a big deal now, that typically local newspapers will print a schedule of markets in your area as the season is about to begin.

Often, you can find a schedule from your local Cooperative Extension or county agricultural board, too. They've already become so popular, in fact, that some communities get to enjoy several farmers markets every week, so it pays to shop all of them and choose the ones that provide the produce and other products you like the best.

What to Look for at a Delaware Farmers Market

You will be sure to find local Delaware farms promoting their products at good prices, but there are a few things to look out for. Make sure the produce is ripe and hasn't been sitting out in the sun too long, or has been damaged in transport. Most booths will offer you a free taste of whatever you are looking at, so you can check out new flavors and crops you may not have had a chance to experience before.

Some farmers may even offer you recipes and other ideas on how to serve their products, too. At the really big markets, organizers may bring in free entertainment, arts and crafts booths, and other amusements to bring in the crowds, and they may even provide play areas for the kids, too.

Look for other items at your farmers market, too. Sometimes local meat, cheese, and dairy producers bring their wares, and big markets are more like a county fair, with food booths, information booths, and even games for the whole family. So, check out a local Delaware farmer market or two, and come home with everything you need for a healthy, hearty dinner.